- Resident doctors have announced a five-day strike commencing on 25 July, following a ballot by the British Medical Association.
- The industrial action is in pursuit of a 29 per cent pay rise, which doctors claim is necessary to address pay erosion since 2008-09, after rejecting a 5.4 per cent offer.
- The strike is expected to result in the cancellation of tens of thousands of operations and appointments, further impacting NHS waiting lists.
- Health Secretary Wes Streeting has urged doctors to call off the strikes, warning that the NHS recovery is 'hanging by a thread' and accusing the BMA of threatening it.
- Health leaders have criticised the short notice of the strike, deeming it unfair to patients, while the BMA stated they had 'no choice' but to strike due to the government's stance on pay.
IN FULL
Doctors’ strike over 29% pay rise risks breaking NHS, Streeting warns